BILL NUMBER: AB 1703	CHAPTERED  09/28/00

	CHAPTER   791
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 28, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 28, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 31, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 30, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 29, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   AUGUST 14, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 26, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MAY 26, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   MARCH 23, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Florez and Senator Costa
   (Coauthors:  Assembly Members Longville, and Romero)
   (Coauthor:  Senator Soto)

                        JANUARY 3, 2000

   An act to amend Sections 185020 and 185032 of the Public Utilities
Code, relating to transportation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1703, Florez.  High-speed rail service.
   (1) Existing law establishes the High-Speed Rail Authority with
specified membership appointed by the Governor, the Senate Committee
on Rules, and the Speaker of the Assembly.  Existing law requires the
authority to, among other things, direct the development and
implementation of intercity high-speed rail service that is fully
integrated with the state's existing intercity rail and bus network.
Existing law provides for the termination of the authority on June
30, 2001, unless a specified financial plan is approved by the
Legislature or the voters.
   This bill would extend the termination date of the authority until
December 31, 2003, unless the Legislature repeals those provisions
or provides for a different termination date and would provide for
the expiration of the terms of the members of the authority, as
prescribed.
   (2) Existing law requires the authority to prepare a plan for the
construction and operation of a high-speed train network and to
submit the plan to either the Legislature and the Governor for
approval by the enactment of a statute or to the voters for approval.
  The authorization and responsibility for planning, construction,
and operation of high-speed passenger train service at speeds
exceeding 100 miles per hour is exclusively granted to the authority.

   This bill would continue the authority to prepare the plan only
upon an appropriation in the Budget Act for that purpose, and would
limit the submission of the plan to the Legislature and the Governor.

   This bill would increase the speed described above from 100 miles
per hour to 125 miles per hour.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 185020 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   185020.  (a) There is in state government a High-Speed Rail
Authority.
   (b) (1) The authority is composed of nine members as follows:
   (A) Five members appointed by the Governor.
   (B) Two members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
   (C) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
   (2) For the purposes of making appointments to the authority, the
Governor, the Senate Committee on Rules, and the Speaker of the
Assembly shall take into consideration geographical diversity to
ensure that all regions of the state are adequately represented.
   (c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), and until their
successors are appointed, members of the authority shall hold office
for terms of four years.  A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing
power making the original appointment, by appointing a member to
serve the remainder of the term.
   (d) (1) On and after January 1, 2001, the terms of all persons who
are then members of the authority shall expire, but those members
may continue to serve until they are reappointed or until their
successors are appointed.  In order to provide for evenly staggered
terms, persons appointed or reappointed to the authority after
January 1, 2001, shall be appointed to initial terms to expire as
follows:
   (A) Of the five persons appointed by the Governor, one shall be
appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2002, one shall be
appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2003, one shall be
appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2004, and two shall
be appointed to terms which expires on December 31, 2005.
   (B) Of the two persons appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules,
one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2002,
and one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31,
2004.
   (C) Of the two persons appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly,
one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2003,
and one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31,
2005.
   (2) Following expiration of each of the initial terms provided for
in this subdivision, the term shall expire every four years
thereafter on December 31.
   (e) Members of the authority are subject to the Political Reform
Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000)).
   (f) From among its members, the authority shall elect a
chairperson, who shall preside at all meetings of the authority, and
a vice chairperson to preside in the absence of the chairperson.  The
chairperson shall serve a term of one year.
   (g) Five members of the authority constitute a quorum for taking
any action by the authority.
   (h) The authority is terminated on December 31, 2003, unless the
Legislature, through the enactment of a statute  on or before that
date, repeals this provision or provides for a different termination
date.
  SEC. 2.  Section 185032 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to
read:
   185032.  (a) (1) Upon an appropriation in the Budget Act for that
purpose, the authority shall prepare a plan for the construction and
operation of a high-speed train network for the state, consistent
with and continuing the work of the Intercity High-Speed Rail
Commission conducted prior to January 1, 1997.  The plan shall
include an appropriate network of conventional intercity passenger
rail service and shall be coordinated with existing and planned
commuter and urban rail systems.
   (2) The authorization and responsibility for planning,
construction, and operation of high-speed passenger train service at
speeds exceeding 125 miles per hour in this state is exclusively
granted to the authority.
   (3) Except as provided in paragraph (2), nothing in this
subdivision precludes other local, regional, or state agencies from
exercising powers provided by law with regard to planning or
operating, or both, passenger rail service.
   (b) The plan, upon completion, shall be submitted to the
Legislature and the Governor for approval by the enactment of a
statute.
